The Poet X Review

Ebook, 368 Pages
Poetry/ Contemporary
By: Elizabeth Acevedo
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

“She tells me words give people permission to be their fullest self and aren’t these the poems I most needed to hear?”

🌟 I went back and forth when it came to reading this one, it had a lot of praise and I added it and I even got a copy and tried the first few pages and was not very impressed. I removed the book from my TBR but many of my friends kept recommending it and I decided to give it a chance and I am glad I did! I was afraid it was going to be one of those Tumble Poetry books that make me feel zero feelings! I am glad it was not the case and I know where all the hype comes from now!

🌟 I am still convinced the first few pages are not the best, even through my second reading. However, I am talking about barely 10 pages that can be read in 5 mins and then I was enjoying it more and more with every page.

🌟 The author is actually a National Poetry Slam Champion and she knows what she is doing, this felt like a kind of a biography but I am not sure it is. Acevedo has a great way of painting scenes with a few words and I felt like I was reading a lyrical story rather than poetry. There is no specific rhyme and it is as raw as it can get. I think a good thing to do would be seeing the author’s video on YouTube because her performance is great and if you like it then there are good chances you will like this.

🌟 The author shed light on many subjects such as growing up, live, religion, absent fathers, strict mother, family in general! It may have felt that there were many subjects at one point but they were handled well for sure. I think toward the ending some of the things were quick and unexpected but the overall experience was good! I think I will keep my eyes opened for Acevedo’s future poetry!

“We’re different, this poet and I. In looks, in body,
in background. But I don’t feel so different
when I listen to her. I feel heard.”